Shubman Gill ruled out of England tour, confirms BCCI official

It was already in reports that India’s young opener Shubman Gill won’t be able to ply his trade in the upcoming England series due to an injury. Lately, it was also reported that Prithvi Shaw has been asked as a replacement for Gill, who is already up with the Indian team in Sri Lanka. However, now, it has been confirmed that Gill has been ruled out of the high-profile English tour owing to shin splints.

It has to be noted that Bengal opener Abhimanyu Eswaran is currently with the Indian squad (stand-by player) in England even after having a horrible 2019-20 Ranji season. He even had a dismal A tour of New Zealand and not even being in contention to replace Gill. His selection ahead of two in-form players like Prithvi Shaw and Devdutt Padikkal has already raised a few eyebrows.

Shubman Gill will take three months to heal reckons BCCI official

“Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the entire Test series in the UK with shin splints that will take minimum of three months to heal. The team’s administrative manager, at the end of last month, had sent an e-mailed requisition to former pacer Sharma asking for two more openers to be sent to the UK,” said a BCCI official on the conditions of anonymity as quoted by News18.

Chetan Sharma, the chairman of selectors doesn’t seem to be on the page as that of team management as no formal request has been made to BCCI for sending Shaw or Padikkal in place of Gill. Their Lanka tour ends on 26 July and after that, they can fly to the UK but quarantine rules come in between.

“The BCCI president hasn’t yet received any formal request about sending Shaw and Padikkal to the United Kingdom. They are in Sri Lanka for the white ball series but obviously after it ends on July 26, both can be flown in. But I think, team management wants them to join before entering the bio-bubble in Durham,” added the source.

India’s tour of Sri Lanka begins on July 8 whereas the India-England Test series will see the light of the day from August 04.